Ashli Venokur's main job this season as a starting catcher was to handle the pitching staff. Anything else from the freshman would just be a bonus for the East Brunswick softball team.

That bonus was delivered in a big way yesterday.

Venokur finished 2-for-3 with a solo homer and a three-run shot and every member of the team had at least one hit and one run in a five-inning, 11-1 victory over South Brunswick in East Brunswick.

East Brunswick, which beat South Brunswick for the second time this season (5-1 in the season opener), erupted for eight runs on nine hits in the third inning, highlighted by Venokur’s three-run shot to left-center to make the score 6-1. East Brunswick finished with 13 hits, including three doubles, a triple and Venokur's two home runs.

“The home runs were great, but it was a team effort,’’ said Venokur, the No. 6 batter who is hitting .558 with three home runs and 15 RBI. “Our bats have really picked up and I’m just happy to be a part of it.’’

Meagan Costello, one of four East Brunswick players with two hits, went 2-for-2 with two runs, a sacrifice bunt, a walk, an RBI single and an RBI triple. Gabrielle Kelliher was 2-for-4, with both hits coming in the decisive frame in which East Brunswick sent 12 batters to the plate. The third out came on a put out at the plate.

Lauren Cram also had two hits, while winning pitcher Lauren Assennata had a two-run double. Assennatta pitched a five-hitter with two walks and two strikeouts.

“We’ve had games lately where we had double-digits hits, but not a lot of runs to show for it because we weren’t able to bunch them together,’’ said East Brunswick coach Kevin Brady, the 15th-year head coach who raised his career record to 281-97. “I guess we took out our frustrations in that one inning. That’s as good an inning we’ve had since I’ve been coaching here.’’

South Brunswick threatened in the top of the first when Sara Finnegan singled up the middle with two outs, followed by a ground-rule double by Melissa Mielko. But a rocket up the middle by Ashley Shor was stabbed by Assennata to prevent two runs from scoring and end the inning.